a sore throat — ailments take a/an (GiU Unit 71)
The frame
Section titled “The frame”I don’t feel well today. I’ve got a sore throat. ✓ (✗ I’ve got sore throat)
Countable ailments → a/an
Section titled “Countable ailments → a/an”| with a/an | why |
|---|---|
| a sore throat | countable — one throat |
| a headache / a stomachache / an earache | -ache words = countable |
| a cold / a cough | countable |
| a temperature / a fever | countable |
| a rash / an allergy / an infection | countable |
Uncountable ailments → no article
Section titled “Uncountable ailments → no article”| no article | |
|---|---|
| flu, asthma, cancer, diabetes, pneumonia | mass nouns |
| toothache, backache (BrE often uncountable) | I’ve got toothache ✓ / a toothache also heard |
Why learners drop it
Section titled “Why learners drop it”Indonesian: sakit tenggorokan — no article, because the language doesn’t mark definiteness that way. English forces a/an on any singular countable noun: I’ve got a sore throat mirrors I’ve got a headache (see have-got-vs-have — stative have, so present perfect for duration: I’ve had a sore throat since Monday).
Can you count it (one throat, two headaches)? → a/an. Is it a mass condition (flu, cancer)? → no article.
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Unit 71 — Countable nouns with a/an and some. Ebot lesson 2026-09-05.